Need business advice? Meet the experts.

When it comes to bootstrapping your startup, we know there are always more questions than answers. Innovate New Albany is home to 30 small businesses with entrepreneurs and leaders who share their business expertise at no cost during our monthly Expert Office Hours.

Am I missing any necessary business documentation?
How can I make a (quality) company website on a budget?
What is the best way to spend my money to ensure success?

The experts will answer your questions about finance, design, web development, marketing, business, and more!

Schedule your 30-minute session below:

Kevin Hammond | Ohio SBDC
Business Management Advice

Kevin Hammond has been a business management consultant for 13 years, mostly focused on small businesses and start-ups. Kevin has been on the SBDC team for almost ten years as a consultant. Prior to consulting Kevin was in financial services at Chase Manhattan. Kevin has an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Ohio Dominican University and an MBA from Capital University.

The Ohio SBDC is part of America’s SBDC national network comprised of over 1000 Centers across the U.S. including 28 in Ohio. The Ohio SBDC Network provides one-on-one advising, by Certified Business Advisors, at no cost and conduct no or low cost business training.

Schedule 30 minutes with Kevin using the form below.

Susan Fortner | Bowers PR
Public Relations

Susan Fortner has 20+ years of experience in public relations and marketing. She opened her own public relations firm with a partner firm in Cleveland. Bowers PR manages accounts throughout the country specializing in health care, talent, banking, and packaged and soft goods. In addition the firm is recognized as a broker/partner with QVC, HSN, and Evine shopping networks.

Fortner has won awards and sits on the accreditation board to advance candidates in the Accreditation in Public Relations process. In 2013 Susan received special honors for her work in crisis management.

Great questions for Susan include:

• How can I promote my company on a limited budget?
• How do I set Marketing & PR budgets that are sufficient to drive results?
• What simple steps can I take to improve my social media visibility rapidly?
• Which charities, like-minded businesses, and complementary companies should I partner with?
• How do I create and execute events that will differentiate my business in a crowded market?

Schedule 30 minutes with Susan using the form below.

Lindsay Stencel | Lindsay Karas Stencel Law LLC
Business Law

Lindsay Karas Stencel Law LLC is a small business-focused legal group, working with entrepreneurs, start-ups, existing firms, investors and business sellers and acquirers to properly and efficiently document transactions, contracts and other legal agreements that may be need from time to time.

Lindsay Stencel has vast legal experience in the small business space, particularly with start-ups and foundational business agreements. Ms. Stencel has served as the Chief Legal Counsel of NCT Ventures for the past 10 years, and is also a partner there. At her firm, she has a true passion for assisting entrepreneurs, small businesses and investors in efficiently documenting business agreements, contracts, partnerships, investments and exit transactions. Ms. Stencel has a dual JD/MBA from The Ohio State University and is licensed in Ohio, Michigan and New York.

Schedule 30 minutes with Lindsay using the form below.

Brad Griffith | Buckeye Interactive
Web Strategy and Engineering

Brad Griffith is President of Buckeye Interactive, the web strategy and engineering agency he started in 2009. Prior to starting Buckeye Interactive, Brad spent several years consulting and developing web applications in-house for a variety of companies including JPMorgan Chase, QUALCOMM, and the Go Big Network. Brad earned his Masters in Business Administration after completing his Bachelor’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering with honors, both at The Ohio State University. He has more than 20 years of web development experience and has worked from coast to coast with small and large companies, educational institutions, non-profit organizations and government agencies to build innovative web solutions.

Great questions for Brad include: 

• What is the best way to get my website started?
• How do I start planning an application for my business?
• How can I improve my site for better SEO?
• What different ways can I start building my company’s brand?
• How can I refresh or redesign my website?

Schedule 30 minutes with Brad using the form below.

Melissa Barnett | Porter Wright
Trademark & Intellectual Property Law

Melissa Barnett, an associate in Porter Wright’s Corporate Department, focuses her practice on intellectual property and trademark issues. She has counseled clients in the selection and clearance of trademarks, and the prosecution of applications of registration before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Melissa has experience with copyrights, trademarks/service marks, social media and online identity, advertising, unfair competition, enforcement, disputes and litigation. She also practices in the areas of privacy & data security and technology.

Great questions for Melissa include:

• What can happen if I don’t protect my intellectual property?
• Do I own intellectual property rights for things I created while employed by another person/company?
• Do I own intellectual property rights for things created by others for my company?
• When is the right time to register IP?
• What is the value of securing registrations for patents, trademarks, or copyright?

Schedule 30 minutes with Melissa using the form below.

Christine Beckman | Classical Realty
Commercial Real Estate

Christine Beckman is the principal owner of Classical Realty, an Ohio-licensed Commercial Real Estate Company specializing in Commercial Leasing, Acquisitions, Divestitures, Lease vs. Purchase Analysis, and Capital Gain Tax-deferred Consultation. Named by Business First as One of 20 to Know in Commercial Real Estate and holding designations and memberships with the CCIM institute, IREM, National Association of Realtors, Ohio Associations of Realtors and Columbus Realtors, you can rest assured that your real estate needs will be addressed professionally. Classical Realty was founded by Christine Beckman in response to a need she perceived for more innovative real estate solutions that not only exceed clients’ expectations, but also save them significant sums of money.

Great questions for Christine include:

• Leasing vs. buying?
• How to calculate the amount of space you need?
• What type of space you need for your individual business?
• Investment strategies in real estate and types of investments?
• What options for deferment of taxes do you have if divesting in brick and mortar?

Schedule 30 minutes with Christine using the form below.

Miglena Kotevski | Huntington National Bank
Business Banking

Miglena Kotevski is a Business Banking Relationship Manager/Vice President with the Huntington Business Banking Team in Central Ohio, located in Easton Oval 7. She has over 12 years of experience in banking (all with Huntington), 10 of them working with business clients of different industries and revenue size. Miglena loves assisting the Huntington clients starting their own business, grow an existing business and go thru all stages of a business lifecycle. She works closely with the Huntington Retail banking offices in New Albany, Gahanna and the surrounding areas to assure that her clients are being assisted with all their banking/finance needs.

Great questions for Miglena include:

• How should I finance a start-up?
• What kind of financing can I obtain to grow my business?
• What do I need to buy a building or to purchase an existing business?
• What kind of bank accounts does Huntington offer on the business banking side?
• How the bank can help a business with day-to-day operations?

Schedule 30 minutes with Miglena using the form below.

*Please note that if you register and don’t attend, that time slot doesn’t get filled, keeping other entrepreneurs from getting expert advice. If you have registered and need to cancel, please email Neil Collins at info@innovatenewalbany.org.

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